Telling Stories Through Fashion

About a year ago I was asked to speak for students at Lakes Community High School for their annual Writer's Week program, to show how to tell stories through fashion. I was honored to share my own personal story, how I got interested in the industry, how I started my career as a pattern maker, and show examples of my work. I also spoke more generally about the design process, how brands and fashion designers work through their inspiration, use colors and mood boards, to convey different ideas.

I also talked about how we tend to choose our own clothes to project a certain image, follow trends or set ourselves apart from others. This lead to an introduction of the Fashion Revolution #WhoMadeMyClothes movement, and my passion for ethical manufacturing and "slow fashion."

Hopefully my message inspired someone in the audience -- and I'm pleased to share highlights from this talk (edited down from an hour) for you!

Designers, or anyone who wears clothes: How do you tell stories through fashion?

Pattern Maker & Product Developer Xochil Herrera Scheer shares the story of her fashion journey with Lakes Community High School during Writer's Week 2018. Learn how she got her start in the industry, as well as talking about how we each tell our own stories through clothing, make purchasing decisions, and a little about the design process.

The Chicago Pattern Maker: Xochil Herrera Scheer is a professional product developer, passionate about ethical sourcing and manufacturing, and Made In USA products. She is involved in the fashion community through connecting resources, sharing experiences, and professional development events. Xochil is a lover of slow fashion, collaboration, and is always game for a peanut butter dessert.